Transferring vehicle ownership

If you need to transfer vehicle ownership you may do so at any MVC Agency. To ensure proper transfer of documents and to avoid penalties, please follow these guidelines. Business vehicles have different requirements.


If you sold or bought a vehicle
The Seller must:

• Remove the plates and surrender them to any MVC Agency or Regional Service Center, unless the plates are being transferred to another vehicle (plates can be transferred to another vehicle but not to another owner)
• Sign the reverse side of the title and give it to the buyer, with:
  • Buyer's name and address
  • Date of sale
  • Mileage odometer reading (see below)
  • Sale price
• To avoid a $25 penalty, all titles must be transferred within 10 working days from the date of sale

The Buyer must:

• Sign the back of the title and insert his or her driver license or corpcode number
• Visit an MVC Agency to transfer title, complete registration and receive your plates:
  • Bring the signed title, proof of insurance and sales tax payment (see Vehicles exempt from sales tax)
• Pay $20 (or $40 fee for a financed vehicle)

Odometer reading
You must provide an accurate odometer reading at the time of sale to show whether it has passed its mechanical limitations and is on a second or third cycle. If the actual odometer reading is inaccurate, the seller must give an estimate of what the actual reading should be.


Transfer of title upon death of owner
A vehicle registered in the name of a decedent may be operated for 30 days after the date of death. All transfers need to be completed at an MVC Agency. You cannot process them through the mail.

If the title is in both the husband and wife’s name:

• Submit the old title, a copy of the death certificate and a notarized affidavit of surviving spouse (BA-62, Affidavit of Surviving Spouse)
• Pay $20 title fee (the existing registration can be transferred for an additional $4.50)

If the vehicle was left in a will:

• Submit the old title properly assigned by the executor of the estate and a Surrogate's Short Certificate
• Pay $20 title fee (the existing registration can be transferred to an immediate member of the family for $4.50)

To transfer ownership to the estate:

• Bring the old title and Surrogate's Short Certificate
• Pay $20 (or $40 for a financed vehicle title fee)
• A new registration is necessary if the vehicle will be operated

If the owner dies without a will:

• With an estate less then $10,000:
  A title is transferred to the surviving spouse by submitting the old title with a certified copy of a Surviving Spouse Affidavit signed before the Surrogate of the county where the decedent lived at the time of death or before a Superior Court Judge
• With an estate more then $10,000:
  A title is issued to the surviving spouse, heir or buyer by presenting the old title properly assigned and executed by the Administrator of the estate and a Surrogate's Short Certificate
• Next of Kin:
  If there is no surviving spouse and the estate is valued at less than $5,000, then a title is issued to the next of kin by presenting the old title, written consent from the remaining heirs (if any) and the next-of-kin affidavit signed before the county Surrogate

Liens
Liens noted on the decedent's title should be paid before a new title is issued unless the lien on the title is being transferred to the sole owner. Contact your lending institution for more information.


Sales Tax
A vehicle is only exempt from sales tax if the customer indicates on the purchase price that it is a gift on the sales tax form.